On February 21-24, CENET staff attended the American Camp Association (ACA) National Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Through ACA sessions and networking opportunities, CENET gained valuable insight that will further strengthen its J-1 Camp Counselor program. Special thanks to officials from the U.S. Department of State for participating in a panel discussion regarding the J-1 Camp Counselor program category, followed by individual meetings with designated sponsors. Per the ACA website , the following Department of State representatives were in attendance:

Diane Culkin: Diane is the Division Chief in the U.S. Department of State Office of Private Sector Exchange — Office of Designation. The Department oversees and administers the Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa which includes J-1 Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor visas.

Jacqueline Chisolmn: Jacqueline is a Program Analyst with the U.S. Department of State Office of Private Sector Exchange — Office of Program Administration. The Department oversees and administers the Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa which includes J-1 Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor visas.

Deena Pinckney-Cooper: Deena is the Lead Program Analyst with the U.S. Department of State Office of Private Sector Exchange — Office of Designation. The Department oversees and administers the Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa which includes J-1 Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor visas.

Jennifer Nupp: Jennifer is a Program Analyst with the U.S. Department of State Office of Private Sector Exchange — Office of Designation. The Department oversees and administers the Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa which includes J-1 Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor visas.

*Lauren Grimes was also in attendance and participated in CENET’s sponsor meeting.

Check out photos from CENET’s week at ACA below:

CENET strives to inspire a safer, more prosperous and compassionate world through international education and cultural exploration. For more news and updates about CENET, please visit our Facebook Page.

On February 15, over 150 community members attended a Welcome Reception hosted by Cultural Exchange Network (CENET) from 5-7 pm. Guests were able to check out CENET’s new office space in the Marquette Tech District, meet and mingle with CENET staff & board of directors, and sample food and drinks from around the world.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres inspired by Asian recipes, European craft beers, and South American & European wine selections were be available to guests; these special selections were provided by CENET and our event sponsors: Cafe n’Me, Tandoor Indian Grill, and Primo Vino.

A highlight of the evening was a brief address given by CENET’s Executive Director, Robyn Walker, where she shared CENET’s vision and mission with attendees.

Special thanks to the Southeast Missourian for attending the event; a photo gallery from the Southeast Missourian may be viewed here.

Moving forward, CENET plans to offer receptions on regular basis. As CENET continues to facilitate our local program, Culture in the Community (CITC), we hope to gain awareness and support from our friends and fellow citizens in the Cape Girardeau area.

For those unfamiliar with CENET or its local program, CITC provides authentic, international education to area schools and groups, with a special focus on under-served schools and communities.

To date, CITC has provided free educational programs for thousands of local students through classroom sessions and summer camps. In As an upcoming initiative, CENET will once again be partnering with Concordia Language Villages (CLV) to provide scholarships for local students to attend the internationally acclaimed language immersion programs offered by CLV.

In 2017, there will be opportunities for community members and companies to contribute tax deductible donations to CENET programs. Funds will support initiatives like Culture in the Community classroom sessions and scholarships for deserving local students to attend Concordia Language Villages.

CENET strives to inspire a safer, more prosperous and compassionate world through international education and cultural exploration. To learn more about CENET or how to get involved in our programs, please contact cenet@cenet.org or 573-335-7111.

For more news and updates about CENET, please visit our Facebook Page.

CENET had the privilege of visiting two of our valued partners in the Dominican Republic. During the trip, CENET was able to meet many of our future participants and provide orientations for over 150 Work and Travel students. In addition, six of our host companies were represented on the trip, allowing all major program stakeholders to meet in person to lay the groundwork for a successful summer season.

Another highlight of the visit included an alumni dinner with CENET’s former participants.

To check out a video and photos from CENET’s trip, please see the gallery below:

CENET strives to inspire a safer, more prosperous and compassionate world through international education and cultural exploration. For more news and updates about CENET, please visit our Facebook Page.

On February 1, Culture in the Community (CITC) visited the 3rd & 4th grade classes at Oran Elementary. After receiving play passports, the students embarked on a “journey around the world”—all from within their school’s gymnasium.

The students rotated through six country stations: Brazil, Australia, India, Costa Rica, Japan, and World Geography. At each stop, international presenters shared their home cultures, customs, and cuisines. Through the interactive presentations, students learned there are not only differences between U.S. and world cultures, but also similarities – and those differences and similarities should be celebrated and not feared.

CENET was joined by staff from the offices of Senator Blunt and Representative Smith, as well as KFVS and the Southeast Missourian. Special thanks to Senator Blunt for supporting CITC on social media:

CITC aims to provide authentic international education for area schools and groups. Since its inception in 2011, CITC has provided free programs for thousands of area youth. The program utilizes Southeast Missouri State University’s exchange students and international faculty, CENET staff, and local residents from other countries to provide interactive, international education about world cultures.

CENET is a non-profit organization located in the Marquette Tech District in Cape Girardeau. In addition to Culture in the Community, CENET serves as a U.S. State Department authorized J-1 visa sponsor. CENET also provides The Magellan Exchange, a study abroad program for faculty and staff from universities worldwide, including Southeast Missouri State University.

Should your organization or school be interested in booking a CITC program, please contact CENET. 573-335-7111; cenet@cenet.org

CENET strives to inspire a safer, more prosperous and compassionate world through international education and cultural exploration. For more news and updates about CENET, please visit our Facebook Page.